| Jinkx Monsoon, Corbin Bleu, James Carpinello to star in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS; starting April 2 | |
| Posted by: Official_Press_Release 05:52 pm EST 02/28/24 | |
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| "RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE" STAR JINKX MONSOON TO PLAY AUDREY, ALONGSIDE RETURNING STAR CORBIN BLEU AS SEYMOUR, AND TELEVISION & STAGE STAR JAMES CARPINELLO AS DR. ORIN SCRIVELLO, D.D.S IN THE AWARD-WINNING, SMASH HIT PRODUCTION OF LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS BEGINNING APRIL 2, 2024 AT THE WESTSIDE THEATRE IN NYC (New York, NY – February 28, 2024) Producers of the three-time Best Musical Revival Award-winning production of Little Shop of Horrors – now in its fifth florid year at the Westside Theatre in NYC – will welcome television and stage star Jinkx Monsoon (she/her; "RuPaul's Drag Race," Chicago) as Audrey, opposite returning star Corbin Bleu (he/him; High School Musical franchise, Kiss Me Kate, In the Heights) as Seymour, and television and stage star James Carpinello (he/him; Rock of Ages, "Gotham") as Dr. Orin Scrivello, D.D.S. beginning April 2. The smash hit production continues its run Off-Broadway at the Westside Theatre (407 West 43rd Street), tickets are now sale for the musical through January 2026. "We're so excited to welcome Jinkx to the Little Shop family as Audrey, and James making his return to the New York stage as Orin!" said producer Robert Ahrens. "We can't wait to see what they create together through these iconic roles, opposite our returning Seymour, Corbin Bleu, who has been a treasured member of this company – both onstage, and behind the scenes." "'Little Shop of Horrors' was my favorite movie musical as a kid but Audrey is a role I considered out of the realm of possibility for me. To get to play her in this incredible production is terribly exciting," says Jinkx Monsoon. She adds, "As a drag queen who grew up watching the iconic Ellen Greene performance, I'm thrilled and honored to get to bring Audrey to life in a whole new way that also pays homage to her memorable origins." Jinkx Monsoon is a two-time RuPaul's Drag Race winner, Broadway breakout star, and soon to be villain on the beloved British sci-fi series Doctor Who coming to Disney+ in 2024. She is an award-winning stage actress, having made her Broadway debut in 2023 as Matron "Mama" Morton in Chicago, won a Gregory Award for her portrayal of Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and a the MAC Award for her show The Ginger Snapped. Corbin Bleu burst onto the international stage as a triple threat in the High School Musical franchise and has gone on to star in multiple acclaimed Broadway musicals, including Kiss Me Kate, Irving Berlin's Holiday Inn (Chita Rivera Award for Outstanding Male Dancer), Godspell (Jesus), and In the Heights (Usnavi). He also placed second on the hit competition shot "Dancing with the Stars" on ABC. James Carpinello is a Broadway veteran, previously starring in Rock of Ages, Xanadu, and Saturday Night Fever. As a star of both screen and stage, he's been seen in films in TV shows including Fear the Night, The Mistress, Law and Order SVU, FBI Most Wanted, The Blacklist, and many more. The current cast of Little Shop features Stephen DeRosa (Mr. Saturday Night) as Mr. Mushnik, alongside Aaron Arnell Harrington as The Voice of Audrey II, Tiffany Renee Thompson as Ronnette , Morgan Ashley Bryant as Crystal, Khadija Sankoh as Chiffon, as well as Camryn Hampton, Michael Iannucci, Weston Chandler Long, Jeff Sears, Teddy Yudain, Zakiya Baptiste, Major Attaway, Noel MacNeal, Jon Hoche, Johnny Newcomb, and Christine Wanda. As previously announced, Evan Rachel Wood, Darren Criss, and Bryce Pinkham will play their final performances as Audrey, Seymour, and Dr. Orin Scrivello D.D.S, respectively, on Sunday, March 31, 2024. With a book and lyrics by Grammy and Academy Award winner Howard Ashman (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast), and music by Tony and Academy Award winner Alan Menken (Aladdin, Newsies), the 2020 Drama League, Outer Critics Circle, and Drama Desk Award-winning Best Musical Revival of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS is directed by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer (Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Spring Awakening) and choreographed by Ellenore Scott (Funny Girl, Mr. Saturday Night). LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS began previews at Westside Theatre on Tuesday, September 17, 2019, and opened to widespread critical acclaim on Thursday, October 17, 2019. Ben Brantley of The New York Times deemed the show a "Critic's Pick," declaring that "a certain carnivorous plant has been re-potted in Hell's Kitchen, and I am delighted to report that it's thriving there. Michael Mayer's delicious revival…summons the shivery elation I felt seeing the musical at the East Village's Orpheum nearly four decades ago. It restores the show to its original scale and sensibility, reminding us of the special potency of grisly things that come in small, impeccably wrapped packages." The Hollywood Reporter describes the production as "wildly exuberant and irresistible. This terrific revival will only deepen the devotion for those lucky enough to catch it." Time Out gives the musical "Four Stars! A deeply satisfying revival… with a marvelous cast. What kind of deal with what kind of devil are you willing to cut to see it?" When the production re-opened its doors following the pandemic-related extended shut-down, Washington Post critic Peter Marks exclaimed, "I'm back at Little Shop of Horrors because, friends, I needed to laugh today. Hearing the glorious Menken/Ashman score sung by this cast fills the prescription. [A return trip] is WORTH IT." Seymour is a down-on-his-luck florist with a crush on his co-worker Audrey. When he discovers a mysterious – and voracious – plant, suddenly Seymour and Audrey are thrust into an epic battle that will determine the fate of the entire human race. LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS first premiered Off-Broadway in 1982, where it made audiences laugh, scream, and give up gardening for good. The musical has since catapulted into a global phenomenon, with productions across the world from Broadway to London's West End, to Asia and Australia – plus a hit 1986 film adaptation directed by Frank Oz that starred Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene and Steve Martin. Now, the musical has made its highly-anticipated return home to Off-Broadway, in an intimate new production directed by Michael Mayer that offers an unprecedented opportunity to get close — maybe too close — to an incredible plant with an insatiable appetite. The LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS design team features Tony-nominated Scenic Designer Julian Crouch (Hedwig and the Angry Inch); Two-time Tony-winning Lighting Designer Bradley King (Hadestown, Natasha Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812); Emmy-winning Costume Designer Tom Broecker (Everyday Rapture); Tony-winning Sound Designer Jessica Paz (Hadestown); Emmy-nominated Puppet Designer Nicholas Mahon (Pyeongchang Olympics Opening Ceremony) and Hair and Makeup Designer Tommy Kurzman (My Fair Lady). Original puppet design is by Martin P. Robinson, Puppets are by Monkey Boys Productions, and Grammy nominee Will Van Dyke (Pretty Woman) serves as Music Supervisor, Orchestrator & Arranger. LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS is produced by Tom Kirdahy, Robert Ahrens, Hunter Arnold, Mickey Liddell, Caiola Productions, Curt Cronin, John Joseph, DDM Productions, DeSantis-Baugh Productions, Elizabeth Dewberry & Ali Ahmet Kocabiyik, Wendy Federman, Roy Furman, Deborah Green, Kayla Greenspan, Marguerite Hoffman, Sally Cade Holmes, Latitude Link, Seriff Productions, Silva Theatrical Group, and Eric Gelb/Oliver Roth. Casting is by Jim Carnahan, C.S.A./Jason Thinger, General Management is by Live Wire Theatrical/ Chris Aniello, Production Management is by Tinc Productions and Production Stage Management is by Sara Sahin. TICKETS & SAFETY PROTOCOLS: Tickets are on sale now through January 4, 2026, at Telecharge.com/212-239-6200. The regular performance schedule is Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 7:00pm, Fridays at 8:00pm, Saturdays at 2:00 & 8:00pm, and Sundays at 2:00pm & 7:30pm. Holiday Week schedules may vary & the schedule is subject to change. The Westside Theatre and the producers of Little Shop of Horrors are committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for audiences, performers, and staff. All audience and staff members will be required to follow all CDC, NYS, NYC health guidelines, as well as those established by the production, at the time of performance. Please note that these guidelines are subject to change — for up-to-date information, visit http://westsidetheatre.com/covid-19/ BIOGRAPHIES: JINKX MONSOON (she/her; Audrey) is a two-time RuPaul's Drag Race winner, Broadway breakout star, and soon to be villain on the beloved British sci-fi series Doctor Who coming to Disney+ in 2024. The self-proclaimed "internationally tolerated" drag icon has taken over the entertainment industry as an award-winning stage actress, acclaimed vocalist, stand-up comic, and theatre sensation. Jinkx first garnered an international fan base following her win on RuPaul's Drag Race Season 5 (2013), and continued her winning streak on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 7 (2022) where she was crowned "Queen of All Queens," winning the competition against all previous winners. In January 2023, Jinkx made her highly-anticipated Broadway debut as Matron "Mama" Morton in Broadway's longest-running musical, Chicago. Jinkx's monumental and extended 10-week run broke box office records, achieving the highest selling non-holiday week in the show's 26 year history (as reported by Playbill). Following the run, she went on to sell out theaters across 45 North American cities with her first ever concert tour titled "Jinkx Monsoon: Everything at Stake" from June through August 2023. Jinkx closed out 2023 with the 6th annual "The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show" tour which sold out the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles and traveled for 8 weeks across the U.S., UK and Canada. In 2025, she will headline the legendary Carnegie Hall for the first time with a brand new concert experience, and will become only the second drag queen to headline their own show in the venue's history. Jinkx has toured the world performing her original cabaret shows with music partner Major Scales, including highly-acclaimed shows like The Ginger Snapped, The Vaudevillians (which became a hit Off-Broadway sensation) and their most recent production, Together Again, Again (2022). As a recording artist, Jinkx has released three critically-hailed albums of original music written by Major Scales including her most recent The Virgo Odyssey (2022), The Inevitable Album and The Ginger Snapped. No stranger to film and TV, Jinkx has voiced characters for such animated shows as Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake (playing the beloved character Lemongrab), Steven Universe, Mighty Magiswords, Bravest Warriors. She has also appeared on the CBS cop drama Blue Bloods and the Netflix original AJ and the Queen. Jinkx has been the subject of two documentaries: Drag Becomes Him, and The Queens. She is an award-winning stage actress, having won the Gregory Award for her portrayal of Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and most recently, The MAC Award for her show The Ginger Snapped, co-written with Major Scales. CORBIN BLEU (he/him; Seymour)is thrilled to be returning to Skid Row to reprise his portrayal of Seymour! Broadway: Kiss Me, Kate (Drama Desk Nomination), Holiday Inn (Chita Rivera Award), Godspell (Jesus), In The Heights (Usnavi). Regional Selects: Hairspray (Seaweed) and Mamma Mia! (Sky) both at The Hollywood Bowl, Singin' In The Rain (Don, St. Louis Theater Circle Award) and Mary Poppins (Bert) both at The Muny, Anything Goes at Arena Stage (Helen Hayes Award), and the world premiere of Summer Stock at Goodspeed Opera. TV includes: Love, For Real (Hallmark), A Christmas Dance Reunion (Lifetime), "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series" (Disney+), "Dynasty", "Supergirl", "Chicago Med", "The Middle", "The Fosters", "Castle", "Psych", "Franklin & Bash", "Blue Bloods", "Dancing with the Stars", "The Real Dirty Dancing", Jump In!. Bleu is best known for his role as Chad Danforth in Disney's Emmy-winning High School Musical franchise. Other film credits include: Camp Hideout, To Write Love on Her Arms, Nurse 3-D, The Monkey's Paw, and Galaxy Quest. Bleu is Chair of the National Advisory Board of the Looking Ahead Program, a division of the Entertainment Community Fund. Love to my incredible wife Sasha! @corbinbleu JAMES CARPINELLO (he/him; Dr. Orin Scrivello, D.D.S. & others) James is thrilled to be joining the cast of Little Shop of Horrors. Broadway: Original companies of Rock of Ages, Xanadu, Saturday Night Fever. Off Broadway: Incident at Vichy (Signature Theatre) and Stupid Kids directed by Michael Mayer (WPA Theater). Film: Fear the Night, The Mistress, Midway, Gangster Squad, The Punisher, The Great Raid. TV: Law and Order SVU, FBI Most Wanted, The Gifted, The Enemy Within, Gotham, The Blacklist, Person of Interest, and many more. Thank you to Amy, Jackson, and Ava for letting me come back to NYC and play make believe for a while. @jimmycarp @lostboysmusical www.lostboysmusical.com coming soon! |
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